Thomas C. Kane

Thomas Clayton Kane peacefully passed away October 19, 2010 at the home of his sister Alice Kane Forsberg where he has resided this last year. He was born November 11, 1922 in Fallon CA, to the parents of Thomas and Valesca Kane. He attended Clark Grade School, a one room school house, with a bell tower and bell to call the students to class, and one teacher for all eight grades. He graduated from Tomales High School, Class of 1941 and Santa Rosa Junior College, Class of 2001 with honors at the age of 79. After high school he went into business with his dad on the family ranch until he was drafted into the US Army. He served as a master mechanic working on amphibious equipment in the South Pacific. Upon returning home he continued in the Army Reserve for more than twenty years. He never said much about the war, just that it was "no fun and games". He worked at Mare Island before starting his own trucking business, TCK Trucking. In the beginning he delivered fresh horse meat in 100 gallon drums, to the San Francisco Zoo and over time the deliveries became pet food and supplies to various pet stores. It was a job he enjoyed and in his retiring years his daughters helped with the deliveries, unofficially changing the name to TCK & Daughters Trucking. He enjoyed his garden. He enjoyed baking pies with fruit from his trees. He was a bowler. He was president of the Men's Bowling Association and was inducted into the Bowlers Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Tomales Druids #33, Petaluma Moose #475 and The Tomales Regional History Center. He raced stock cars, he went fishing in the bay and ocean in his blue Dorsett Hull boat and he built a family cabin in Hidden Valley Lake. His red 1929 Model A Ford pick-up, loaded with family, was the star of many parades. He received his 15 minutes of fame when he was a star in a commercial and an extra in a movie filmed in Petaluma. Going on cruises with his family brought him lots of pleasure. His home was truly his castle with the doors always open for family and friends. Most times you could find him in his backyard sitting in his rocking chair with his dog by his side. He had a great life. Survived by his sister Alice Kane Forsberg of Petaluma; The best friend and father to Gloria Kane Pearson of Petaluma, Victoria Renfro of Lower Lake and Caroline Bunny Kane of Hidden Valley; loving grandpa to Val Valesca David of Lower Lake, and Laura (AJ) Marshall, "LB" Lenny Pearson, Tory (Bret) Snyder of Petaluma and Veronica (Peter) Gobbi of Penngrove; and great grandfather to Michael David, Zella Pearson, Alice and Sarah Williams, Emma Snyder and Nicholas Gobbi. Whether you knew him as Mr. Kane, Tom, Buck, Buster, Bus (as his sister affectionately called him) dad, daddy, grandpa or pops, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him and never forgotten. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial gathering Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Alice Forsberg 217 Casa De Arroyo Drive, Petaluma. Donations may be made to SPCA and Hospice of Petaluma.